Role of Different Regulatory Agencies in the United States

Abstract

The manufacturing of food involves a great deal of regulatory and management oversight to ensure a safe product for the market. This chapter describes the federal inspection process and the federal agencies regulating food safety, mainly the Food and Drug Administration, from the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Food Safety and Inspection Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. States play also an integral role in the inspection process, for instance, during the recall of adulterated food products. Federal and state agents work closely with manufacturers and retailers to protect the consumer, and it is this multifaceted regulatory structure that makes the U.S. food supply one of the safest and most effective in the world. Although mistakes can be made throughout the production and delivery of foods, these mistakes are minimized by effective checks and balances.